farmdoc's blog post number 175

Last Thursday the headline writers had a field day: ‘Not in Burke’s Backyard’ and ‘Don Burke becomes ‘Gunn for hire’’ The story is that Gunns Limited has hired Don Burke – an erstwhile celebrity gardener – as ‘environmental consultant’ to its proposed northern Tasmania pulp mill. It’s a feeble, transparent ploy by Gunns’ spin doctors, because another celebrity gardener – Peter Cundall – is an eloquent, heartfelt and unpaid opponent of the mill. Burke is chairman of the Australian Environment Foundation which operates from the address of the right-wing think tank the Institute of Public Affairs, and is commingled with it as well as Timber Communities Australia. The AEF is arguably a greenwash organisation: according to its website it’s pro GMO, it’s open to nuclear energy, it promotes climate change scepticism, it’s pro pulp mill of course, and it opposes peak environment groups. Very nasty, Donny boy. Cundall’s a man of impeccable integrity; Burke's a hired gun. Burke said he approached Gunns for the job, and he’s received assurances from Gunns’ chairman John Gay that his role will be independent of the company. Oh yes, you read right. ‘He asked me to monitor what’s going on, and work in the best interests as a green person,’ Burke said. But he doesn’t say in whose best interests; and he’s as green as horse shit. Stay tuned, folks.